Words for Wednesday
The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over by a moveable feast of participants when Delores had computer troubles. Sadly, Delores has now closed her blog forever due to other problems.
The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind.
If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along to read it and add a few encouraging words.
This month the words/prompts are supplied by Sean Jeating and can be found here.
This week's words/prompts are:
1. absolution 2.Auschwitz 3.love 4. resistance 5.without
and/or:
1. dancing 2.dreams 3.ears 4. eyes 5.talking
use either list or both, or mix and match, just have fun.
Charlotte's colour of the month is Carmine as seen above the text here.
My own story will hopefully appear on this blog on Friday 23rd
My story will be over here.
ReplyDeletemessymimi; I'll be over first thing tomorrow.
Deletemessymimi: Molt bon ús de les paraules. Llegit i comentat. ;-)
DeleteThese are good words and will be interesting to see what your story is about, R.
ReplyDeleteMargaret D; I have a germ of an idea, but need to work at it this time.
DeleteAs a German in Germany we learned about all the cruel acts that were done in WWII - and it seems history repeats itself with the Russian dictator now - another genocide.
ReplyDeleteBut our school never went to Auschwitz and I am actually thankful - I think I would´ve fainted.
In Broome we watched "Life is Beautiful" - the letters of the movie in Carmine - in Italian with English subtitles. As I don´t speak Italian - the brain is awesome - my ears ignored the talking but register laughter, my eyes easily read the subtitles, but I watched the movie.
A movie not without love but with even dancing in the resistance, always the dreams of freedom in sight.
I still wonder why people go against Jewish people and I hope none of these... are or were they people even - none of them got an absolution and if there is a hell, I hope they suffer for eternity.
Looking forward too Friday.
Iris; this is wonderful, I don't recall that movie at all and will have to look for it. My story tomorrow has an Auschwitz survivor.
DeleteDirector and main character was Roberto Benigni - I don´t watch the Oscars but it was in German TV-News even. He won the Oscar, came out of the blue for him - he was so excited he just jumped over the chairs and yelled, "my English is all out, my English is all out!!!" - He just did´t know what to say in English, he was too happy.... Sadly they didn´t show the rest, so I have no idea what he said on stage. Maybe I search for it - but I reckon I just keep the happy moment as it was...
DeleteI agree with you and do not understand all the hate in the world.
DeleteOnce Marcel Marceau gave me about an hour or two of his life. We talked about Auschwitz and love, about language and absolution, about Chaplin and apartheid, about poetry, Picasso and power, about resistance and reconciliation, about . . .
ReplyDeleteAt one point he said: Shshsh, and now let's five minutes talk without words.
...
Magic?
Eyes talking.
No ears needed.
Silence.
Thoughts flowing, waving.
Question and answer dancing.
Dreams.
Understanding?
Yes.
It is possible.
Magic!
Afterwards I felt these had been very special moments in my life.
Sean Jeating; Very nicely done. Talk without words requires paying attention to the other, something I absolutely cannot do. I have memories of my mother forcing me to look at her eyes, telling me if I was lying she could see a tiny man dancing in my eyes. I cannot look people in the eyes for more than a few seconds without getting very uncomfortable.
DeleteSean Jeating: Una experiència així no s'oblida. Si la ment es queda completament en blanc de preguntes i respostes i en silenci, llavors si hi ha màgia.
DeleteI'm sure it was one of the best conversations you ever had.
DeleteReading out of order loved, your story. PS: I understand about the glass jars. They are easy to break and I've to date, broken many, event the small lights ones. Even broke one of my fave Pyrex bowls and many other things that go crashing down. So I get that for sure.
ReplyDeleteThe Happy Whisk; I recently broke one of my favourite soup/cereal bowls, but still have two left. I worry about glass on the floor if I don't clean it up properly and maybe my cat will cut her feet. I rarely break things or drop things, but I am getting older and some things feel heavier with my muscles not as strong as in the past.
DeleteAquí vos deixo el meu:
ReplyDeleteAsseguts a prop del mar, agafats de les mans, na Sílvia i en Lluís parlaven...
— A vegades sento que l'amor ens pot oferir una ABSOLUCIÓ de tot allò terrible que vam viure.
— Et refereixes a AUSCHWITZ? Mai no podré oblidar aquelles imatges.
— És un record que pesa, però també és un símbol de RESISTÈNCIA.
— Sí, SENSE aquesta fortalesa... Què ens quedaria?... Només SOMNIS trencats...
— Recordo que enmig de tant de patiment, el teu vestit CARMÍ em va fer somriure. Recordes?
— És clar i com BALLÀVEM sota aquell cel gris. Avui, a les meves ORELLES encara ressonen les notes d'aquells instants.
— Els teus ULLS brillaven com a esperança. D'això n'hem de PARLAR més... de com trobar llum a la foscor...
— Exacte! L'AMOR pot florir als llocs més inesperats, fins i tot després de viure allò inimaginable.
—Prometem mai oblidar, però també mai deixar de somiar?
—Així serà!
I quedaren en silenci, mirant el cel lluminós d'aquell preciós dia.
Moltes gràcies!
sa lluna; this is wonderful, sitting by the sea and talking of memories. Thank you, you made me smile.
DeleteThis is beautifully written and an excellent use of the prompts.
Deletethese words did not lend themselves to a short pithy stories I usually write. So here is a long story:
ReplyDeleteAnnie clutched the ornate wooden box on her lap, remembering a promise made. Now the promise would be met.
The bus’s brakes squealed as it pulled up to the Museum, with the stop being the end of a long journey, one that had taken nearly 80 years to make. Annie deboarded the bus, struggling to maintain balance after a 15 hour flight to this remote place in history.
Auschwitz- Birkenau State Museum was quiet and impressive. As a special offer for the 40th anniversary of the closure the concentration camp, the tour bus director guided Annie and others like her, each holding a box tightly. The forty very disparate people met each other’s eyes. All had the same duty made from promises, all were uncertain of the outcome.
In the cool dark lecture hall, they were welcomed by staff, each one with a connection to Auschwitz’s past. The director of the museum was an older woman who had a tattoo of numbers on her forearm, took time to talk to the group about the people who were there, had been there.
She spoke of the dancing and love that these gentle people shared in the days before they were dragged from their homes and brought to their deaths
“Their eyes and ears were assaulted by the evil and horror that would kill them. Whatever their dreams were before now disappeared in the gas of the chambers before them.
“They had been torn from their homes, without resistance, many people like yourselves have come to this place where unspeakable acts were carried out by a regime for which there will never be any acts of absolution.
She led them out to the quiet empty sterile space where millions of feet walked and then were blown away like dust. They walked in unison, unconsciously forming a line of people who held the boxes
Annie set her box on the wall that separated the camp from the rows of trenches that held the bodies of ones they loved. As if on a signal, each of the forty opened their boxes and released the contents into the air. They broke out in song,
DI NESHOME ZOL HOBN AN ALIYE
May your soul rise higher and higher
Through the stages of illumination;
May your soul rise to the highest rung
In the holy realms of Gan Eden.
Your memory is a blessing
To all of us you left behind.
You’ll be wrapped in a garment of light
As your soul continues to climb.
May your journey be gentle
Through the seven realms up above.
We’ll do good deeds in your name
We remember you with love.
Silence came at the end of the song, just as the sun was setting. The sky of carmine glowed behind them as the bus retreated from the place of death to the places where life was being celebrated.
Annie fell into a deep sleep and dreamed of her grandmother and the tattoo on her arm. I brought you back to be with those who suffered and cared for you.
Promise made, promise kept.
I bow.
ReplyDelete[Blogger "googles"!!!]
ReplyDeleteAbove bow's for Susan.
The following's for sa lluna:
Very well composed dialogue in atmospheric scenery. Chapeau, Paula.
Sean: Moltes gràcies!! ;-)
DeleteExcellent, Susan!
Delete